U.S. patent number 5,772,409 [Application Number 08/465,729] was granted by the patent office on 1998-06-30 for drug infusion device with pressure plate.
This patent grant is currently assigned to SIMS Deltec, Inc.. Invention is credited to Jay Gregory Johnson.
United States Patent |
5,772,409 |
Johnson |
June 30, 1998 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
Drug infusion device with pressure plate
Abstract
An infusion system having a pumping mechanism with tube-engaging
members for pumping fluid through a tube, a releasable pressure
plate that can be attached and detached from the pumping mechanism
having a releasable attachment mechanism for attaching an infusion
tube to the pressure plate such that the infusion tube can be
engaged by the tube-engaging members when the pressure plate is
attached to the pumping mechanism, and an infusion tube for
delivering fluid from a fluid source to a patient that is arranged
and configured to be attached to the pressure plate by the
attachment mechanism and used with the pumping mechanism. The
infusion tube can be quickly replaced by detaching the infusion
tube from the releasable attachment mechanism and attaching a new
infusion tube to the pressure plate. The pressure plate preferably
includes a pair of pump-securing extensions, a loop-shaped pump
anchor, a plurality of tube-positioning rib pairs, and a retaining
lip having a retaining lip surface sized to retain the infusion
tube.
Inventors: |
Johnson; Jay Gregory (Maple
Plain, MN) |
Assignee: |
SIMS Deltec, Inc. (St. Paul,
MN)
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Family
ID: |
22557820 |
Appl.
No.: |
08/465,729 |
Filed: |
June 6, 1995 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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156040 |
Nov 22, 1993 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
417/360; 417/474;
128/DIG.12; 604/153 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61M
5/142 (20130101); F04B 43/082 (20130101); A61M
5/14228 (20130101); Y10S 128/12 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
F04B
43/00 (20060101); A61M 5/142 (20060101); F04B
43/08 (20060101); F04B 043/08 () |
Field of
Search: |
;604/151,153,264,280,284
;128/DIG.12,DIG.13 ;417/474,360,477.1,234,477.2,478
;248/65,73,506,639 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Other References
Photographs of a pump product by Patient Solutions, Inc., Med-Mate
.TM., Model 1100, pp. A1-A5, Exhibit A. .
Photographs of a pump product by Block Medical, Inc., a Hillenbrand
Industry, Verifuse.RTM. Model No. B001500, pp. B1-B3, Exhibit B.
.
Photographs of a pump product by Medfusion, Inc., a Medex, Inc.
Company, Infu-Med.TM., WalkMed.TM. 440 PIC, pp. C1-C2, Exhibit C.
.
Photographs of a pump product by C.R. Bard, Inc., Bard Medsystems
Division, pp. D1-D3, Exhibit D. .
Photographs of a pump product by Pharmacia Deltec, Inc., pp. E1-E2,
Exhibit E. .
Photographs of a pump product by AVI, Inc. AVI Guardian.TM. MICRO
110, pp. F1-F4, Exhibit F. .
Photographs of a pump product by Abbott Laboratories, Abbott/Shaw
LifeCare.RTM. Pump Model 3, pp. G1-G3, Exhibit G. .
Patient Solutions, Inc. Directions for Use, MedMate.TM. 1100. 61
pages, Exhibit 2. .
Block Medical, Inc. literature for VERIFUSE System, 1 page, dated
Nov. 1990, Exhibit 3. .
Medfusion, Inc. Operations Manual for Medfusion WALKMED.TM.
Ambulatory Infusion Pump, 92 pages, dated Apr., 1990, Exhibit 4.
.
Patient Solutions, Inc. literature for MedMate.TM. 1100, 2 pages,
Exhibit 1. .
Medex Ambulatory Infusion Systems literature, entitled "WalkMed
Pump Disposable Products," 2 pages, dated 1992, Exhibit 5. .
Medex Ambulatory Infusion Systems literature, entitled "WalkMed
PCA," 2 pages, dated 1993, Exhibit 6. .
Bard Ambulatory PCA Pump literature, 2 pages, dated Jun. 1990,
Exhibit 7. .
Bard MedSystems Division, C.R. Bard, Inc., Quick Reference Guide, 2
pages, dated Feb. 1992, Exhibit 8. .
Bard MedSystems Division, C.R. Bard, Inc., Bard.RTM. Ambulatory PCA
Pump Operator's Manual, 43 pages, dated Apr. 1990, Exhibit 9. .
AVI, Inc. literature entitled "The AVI Adantage,", 2 pages, dated
1983, Exhibit 10. .
AVI, Inc. literature, entitled "Bridging the Gap," 6 pages, dated
Apr. 22, 1983, Exhibit 11. .
Abbott Laboratories Hospital Products Division literature, entitled
"The Blue Line System LifeCare.RTM.," 12 pages, dated Jul., 1990,
Exhibit 12. .
Abbott Laboratories Hospital Products Division literature, entitled
"LifeCare.RTM. Electronic Flow Control Systems Catalog," 34 pages,
dated May, 1985, Exhibit 13..
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Primary Examiner: Thorpe; Timothy
Assistant Examiner: Korytnyk; Peter G.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Merchant, Gould, Smith, Edell,
Welter & Schmidt, P.A.
Parent Case Text
This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/156,040, filed
Nov. 22, 1993, now abandoned, which application is incorporated
herein by reference .
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A pressure plate for use with a control module of a pump
comprising:
a body having a main surface facing in a first direction and
including first and second longitudinal sides, and first and second
transverse ends;
a pair of hook-shaped pump-securing extensions extending from the
main surface adjacent to the first transverse end;
a loop-shaped pump anchor extending from the main surface adjacent
to the second transverse end;
a plurality of tube-positioning rib pairs extending from the main
surface and spaced apart to receive an infusion tube in a direction
generally parallel to the first and second longitudinal sides;
and
a retaining lip extending from the main surface and having a
retaining lip surface spaced from the main surface and sized to
retain the infusion tube releasably held by the retaining lip
surface to the main surface, the hook-shaped pump-securing
extensions and the loop-shaped pump anchor engageable with the
control module to mount the body to the control module.
2. The pressure plate of claim 1, wherein the loop-shaped pump
anchor includes an end defining a gap between the end of the
loop-shaped pump anchor and the main surface of the body, the gap
sized to receive a portion of the infusion tube.
3. The pressure plate of claim 1, further comprising an infusion
tube mounted to the pressure plate.
4. The pressure plate of claim 3, further comprising a kit
including a plurality of infusion tubes, each infusion tube being
successively mounted to the pressure plate by the retaining lip.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to infusion pumps and more particularly to
infusion tubes and pressure plates for use with an infusion
pump.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Currently, drugs or other fluids are often administered to patients
intravenously through the use of a drug infusion pump. One
commonly-used type of drug infusion pump is a linear peristaltic
drug infusion pump as shown in FIG. 1. This type of pump typically
includes a peristaltic pump mechanism 12 having tube-engaging
members 13 and a pump pressure plate 11. The main surface of the
pump pressure plate 11 contains a plurality of oppositely disposed
ribs with a channel between each pair of oppositely-disposed ribs.
A compressible tube 46 is attached to the pressure plate by
threading the tube through an aperture 45 in one end of the
pressure plate through a pump anchor 28 and through ring 47 at an
opposite end. The compressible tube is then secured to the pump
pressure plate and positioned in the channels by use of ring 47 and
restraint 44 which is force-fitted into the aperture 45. Together,
tube 46 and pressure plate 11 form a tube/pressure plate assembly
50.
Tube/pressure plate assembly 50 is then attached to peristaltic
pump mechanism 12 by pump-securing extensions 24 on pressure plate
11 which engage a suspended pin assembly 14 having support
structures 15 and pins 16 which are located on the bottom of the
pump mechanism. The pump anchor 28 located on the pressure plate 11
engages a releasable securing mechanism inside the pump mechanism
12 to secure the pressure plate to the pump mechanism 12. During
use, the tube-engaging members act in a predetermined sequence to
draw a predetermined amount of fluid into the compressible tube and
then expel the predetermined amount of fluid from the tube to the
patient.
Because of medical safety reasons, any portions of the device which
might come in fluid contact with the patient during use must be
disposed of after use. Therefore, the compressible tube must be
changed after use. Unfortunately, because of the complex nature in
which the compressible tube is connected to the pump pressure
plate, including the need to thread the tube through the aperture,
the anchor, and the securing ring, it is impractical to change the
tube after each use. Therefore, when it is necessary to provide a
new tube, both the tube and pressure plate are disposed of as a
single unit and are replaced with a new tube/pressure plate
assembly for use with the next patient. This practice causes an
unwanted increase in the amount of medical waste and cost of using
this type of pump.
Therefore, there arises a need for an infusion device which has an
infusion tube which is easily attached to and removed from a pump
pressure plate.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is for an infusion tube and releasable
pressure plate for use with a pumping mechanism having
tube-engaging members. The releasable pressure plate is preferably
arranged and configured so that it can be attached and detached
from the pumping mechanism. The infusion tube is attached to the
pressure plate by a releasable attachment mechanism which attaches
the infusion tube to the pressure plate such that the infusion tube
can be engaged by the tube-engaging members and so that the
infusion tube can be detached from the pressure plate and replaced
with a second infusion tube.
The present invention meets the need for an infusion device having
a disposable infusion tube by the use of an infusion tube and a
releasable attachment mechanism which secures the infusion tube to
the pressure plate. Unlike the current designs, the present
invention enables the infusion tube to be securely and yet
releasably attached to the pressure plate without the need for
threading the tube through various openings in the pressure plate.
Therefore, the present invention enables a doctor or nurse to
attach a new sterile infusion tube to a pressure plate very
quickly. The ability to quickly dispose of old infusion tubes and
replace them with new tubes enables the pressure plate to be
removed, and sterilized if desired, thereby eliminating the need to
dispose of the pressure plate, reducing medical waste and reducing
the cost for using these types of infusion pumps. The pressure
plate can remain with the patient for multiple therapies with
different infusion tubes, each tube being discarded after use.
These and various other advantages and features of novelty which
characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in
the claims annexed hereto and forming a part hereof. However, for a
better understanding of the invention, its advantages, and the
objects obtained by its use, reference should be made to the
drawings which form a further part hereof, and to the accompanying
descriptive matter, in which there is illustrated and described a
preferred embodiment of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the drawings, wherein like reference letters and numerals
indicate corresponding elements throughout the several views:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a prior art version of an infusion
pump with portions broken away;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a pressure
plate and a disposable infusion tube in accordance with the
invention;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of FIG. 2 showing the disposable
infusion tube connected to the pressure plate;
FIG. 4 is a localized cross-sectional view of FIG. 3 as shown along
section 4--4;
FIG. 5 is a localized cross-sectional view of FIG. 2 as shown along
section 5--5;
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a pressure
plate and a disposable infusion tube in accordance with the
invention;
FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the preferred embodiment of a
connector for use with the invention; and
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a pressure
plate and a disposable infusion tube.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)
Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals
designate like parts, one preferred embodiment of the invention is
a disposable drug infusion tube 30 and a pump pressure plate 11, as
shown in FIG. 2, for use with a linear peristaltic drug infusion
pump (not shown). During use, the disposable drug infusion tube 30
is attached to the pressure plate 11 and then the pressure plate 11
is attached to a peristaltic pump mechanism 12 as shown in FIG. 1
and described in the Background of the Invention section
herein.
Referring now to FIG. 2, the pump pressure plate 11 has a plurality
of rib pairs 18 located on a substantially flat main surface 17.
Pump pressure 11 has first and second lungitudinal sides 17a, 17b,
and first and second transverse ends 17c, 17d. The ribs of each rib
pair 18 are each oppositely disposed from one another forming a
channel for positioning a portion of the disposable drug infusion
tube 30 beneath the tube-engaging members 13 of the peristaltic
pump mechanism 12.
The disposable drug infusion tube 30 would be comprised of a
T-shaped connector 31, a first tube 35, a second tube 37 and a
third tube 39 between the T-shaped connector 31 and the second tube
37. The first tube 35 would also preferably be connected to a means
for providing a fluid source to the first tube 35, such as an
intravenous bag spike 36. Bag spike 36 interconnects first tube 35
with an i.v. bag of fluid (not shown). Similarly, the distal end of
the second tube 37 would be connected to a means for providing a
fluid source to a patient, such as a threaded connector 38, for
example, a Luer lock connector, that is capable of being attached
to a patient's i.v. line. Other conduit connector structures are
possible for either or both of bag spike 36 or threaded connector
38.
The T-shaped connector 31, best shown in FIG. 7, would preferably
have a first arm 32, a second arm 33 and a third arm 34 that are
arranged such that the first arm 32 and third arm 34 are parallel
and attached to the second arm 33. The second arm 33 would be
attached such that it would be perpendicular to the first arm 32
and third arm 34 and aligned with the channel between the nearest
pair of oppositely disposed ribs 18. Preferably, third arm 34 has a
longitudinal axis concentric with a longitudinal axis of the first
arm 32.
The first arm 32 would be connected to the first tube 35 and would
have an internal fluid passage such that a continuous fluid passage
is present from the first tube 35 through the first arm 32. The
second arm 33 would also have an internal fluid passage and would
be connected to the first arm 32 and third tube 39, such that a
continuous fluid passage existed between the first tube 35, first
arm 32, second arm 33 and third tube 39. The third arm 34 could be
solid or partially recessed and sealed toward a central portion 51
of connector 31 to prevent the leaking of any fluid through the
third arm 34 as shown in FIG. 7. Those skilled in the art would
recognize that the present invention could be practiced without the
third arm 34. However, the use of a third arm 34 is preferred for
use with the releasable clamping means as described later. Also,
third arm 34 could be disposed at an angle different than
90.degree. relative to second arm 33.
Referring now to FIG. 2, the third tube 39 would be attached to the
second arm 33 by sliding an end of the third tube 39 over the
second arm 33. Similarly, the third tube 39 would be attached to
the second tube 37 by sliding an end of the third tube 39 over an
end of the second tube 37. The third tube 39 would also be made
from a resilient material such that the third tube 39 could be
compressed against the main surface 17 by the tube-engaging members
13 to shut off the flow of fluid in the third tube 39 or to expel a
predetermined amount of fluid from the third tube 39 to the second
tube 37. Those skilled in the art would recognize that the use of a
third tube 39 is not required for practicing the present invention.
Instead, the second tube 37 could be compressible and resilient and
attached directly to the second arm 33. However, the use of a
separate third tube 39 attached to the second tube 37 is preferred
because it provides the ability to utilize second tubes 37 having
different tube compression properties or to use different third
tubes 39 with different diameters and flow capacities.
Releasable attachment means would also be provided to hold the drug
infusion tube 30 to the pressure plate 11. In one preferred
embodiment, releasable clamping means would be used to hold the
connector 31 to the pressure plate 11 at one end of plate 11 and a
releasable securing means would be used to hold the second tube 37
and third tube 39 to the pressure plate 11 at an opposite end of
plate 11. Those skilled in the art would recognize that different
combinations and numbers of clamping means and securing means could
be used as the attachment means in the present invention. The
releasable attachment means can also include other attachment
structures for temporarily mounting drug infusion tube 30 to
pressure plate 11, such as an interference fit or other mechanical
structures which can be selectively operated to mount tube 30 to
plate 11.
In one preferred embodiment, the releasable clamping means would be
arranged and configured such that the connector 31 could be easily
attached and detached from the pressure plate 11. As shown in FIGS.
2 and 4, the preferred clamping means would be a recess 20 in the
main surface 17 of the pressure plate 11 extending across the width
of the pressure plate 11, and two pairs of clamping ribs 19a,b, one
pair being located at each end of the recess 20 with one clamping
rib 19a,b being oppositely disposed across the recess 20 from
another clamping rib 19a,b. The clamping ribs 19a,b would
preferably have a lip 21 with a retaining lip surface 21a extending
over the recess 20 to secure the connector 31.
A first method for clamping the connector 31 to the main surface 17
would be to position the second arm 33 away from the main surface
17 of the pump pressure plate 11. The third arm 34 of the connector
31 is then slidably inserted into the recess 20 between the first
set of clamping ribs 19a until the third arm 34 is between the
second set of clamping ribs 19b and the first arm 32 is between the
first pair of clamping ribs 19a. The connector 31 is then rotated
about the longitudinal axis defined by first arm 32 until the third
tube 39 is located in the channel between the ribs 18 as shown in
FIG. 3. To remove the connector 31 from the clamping means, the
connector 31 would be rotated until the second arm 33 clears
clamping ribs 19a, the first arm 32 and third arms 34 are then slid
out of the recess 20.
A second method for clamping the connector 31 to the main surface
17 would be to position the third arm 34 above the second pair of
clamping ribs 19b and the first arm 32 above the first pair of
clamping ribs 19a while aligning the second arm 33 with the channel
between the ribs 18. Because the connector 31 and clamping ribs
19a,b are somewhat resilient, the first arm 32 and third arm 34 of
the connector 31 could be pushed downward, as shown in FIG. 3,
between the clamping rib lips 21 until the connector 31 is snapped
into the recess 20. The connector 31 could then be unclamped from
the pressure plate 11 by pulling upward on the connector 31 or tube
39 until the connector 31 was unsnapped from the recess 20 and
clamping ribs 19a,b. It is to be appreciated that other methods in
accordance with the invention include sliding or snapping connector
31 into recess 20 and then the other of sliding or snapping
connector 31 from recess 20. Those skilled in the art would also
recognize that other releasable clamping means, such as tabs,
notches, snaps, or the like, could be used with the present
invention.
To ensure that the first arm 32 and third arm 34 are not
inadvertently inserted in the wrong position, the preferred
embodiment would utilize a first arm 32 having a different length
than the third arm 34. Because the lengths are different, there is
only one way for the user to position the connector 31 over the
pressure plate 11 such that the second arm 33 and third tube 39 are
positioned in the channels between the oppositely-disposed ribs 18.
Therefore, the preferred embodiment also provides the added
assurance that the drug infusion tube 30 is always properly aligned
in the pressure plate.
As discussed earlier, in addition to the releasable clamping means
for clamping the T-shaped connector 31, one preferred embodiment of
the invention also includes a releasable securing means for
securing the second tube 37 and the third tube 39 to the pressure
plate 11. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, one means for securing the
second tube 37 and third tube 39 to the pressure plate 11 is to
attach a locating ring 40 to the third tube 39 such that the
locating ring 40 is adjacent to the second tube 37. An expandable
securing clip 22 is also attached to the main surface 17 of the
pressure plate 11 adjacent to a securing ring recess 26 located in
the pressure plate 11.
In one preferred embodiment, the expandable securing clip 22 would
have curved lips or extensions 23 protruding from the main surface
17 that are spaced apart to allow the insertion of the third tube
39 in another preferred embodiment. The securing ring recess 26
would be positioned between the securing clip 22 and the end
surface of the pump pressure plate 11 and would have a width such
that the locating ring 40 would fit snugly into the securing ring
recess 26 between the securing clip 22 and the end surface of the
pump pressure plate 11, best shown in FIG. 3. The securing clip 22
and securing ring recess 26 would also preferably be located on an
axis extending through the channel formed between the nearest pair
of oppositely disposed ribs 18 such that the third tube 39 would be
properly aligned with the channel. Second tube 37 fits into a slot
52 formed in an end of pressure plate 11. Locating ring 40 will not
fit into the securing clip 22 or the slot 52, to ensure that third
tube 39 is not improperly stretched or compressed in a direction
along a longitudinal axis of tube 39.
Because the third tube 39 is compressible, the third tube 39 can be
easily inserted and removed from the securing clip 22. Moreover,
because the locating ring 40 is provided, the third tube 39 is
always properly located on the pressure plate 11. Therefore, this
securing means provides an easy and reliable way for the second
tube 37 and third tube 39 to be secured to or removed from the
pressure plate 11 and to ensure that the third tube 39 is properly
aligned on the pressure plate 11.
As shown in FIG. 6, a second means for securing the second tube 37
and third tube 39 to the pressure plate 11 would be to use an
expandable snap 41 attached to the second tube 37 such that the
snap 41 is adjacent to the third tube 39 in another preferred
embodiment. The expandable snap 41 would be arranged and configured
to fit into a snap aperture 27 in the pump pressure plate 11. The
expandable snap 41 would have two parallel extensions 42 with
triangular portions 43 extending outward from the parallel
extensions 42. The second tube 37 and third tube 39 would be
secured to the pressure plate 11 by inserting the snap 41 into the
snap aperture 27. The triangular portions 43 then act to catch on
the lip or edge of bottom surface 53 of the main surface 17 of the
pressure plate 11 to prevent the removal of the snap 41, second
tube 37 and third tube 39 from the pressure plate 11.
To remove the second tube 37 and third tube 39, the parallel
extensions 42 of the snap 41 are pressed inward until the
triangular portions 43 are within the snap aperture 27. The snap 41
is then lifted from the snap aperture 27. However, because the snap
41 is made from an expandable material, the snap 41 could also be
removed by simply pulling upward on the snap 41 until the
extensions 42 moved inward and out of the snap aperture 27.
Similarly to the previously-described securing means embodiment,
the snap aperture 27 would be aligned in an axis extending through
the channel between the nearest pair of oppositely-disposed ribs 18
to ensure that the third tube 39 is properly positioned between the
oppositely-disposed ribs 18. Those skilled in the art would
recognize that other releasable securing means could be used with
the present invention.
A second clamping means including a connector, like connector 31,
could be used to hold the second and third tubes 37,39 to the
pressure plate 11. In that case, the second connector would be
between second tube 37 and third tube 39 in a mirror image
configuration to connector 31, and appropriate clamping means would
be provided to releasably hold the second connector to the pressure
plate 11.
It is to be appreciated that two releasable securing means, such as
securing clips 22,22a, may be provided, one on each end of third
tube 39 as shown schematically in another preferred embodiment in
FIG. 8. First tube 35 would connect to third tube 39 in a similar
manner as second tube 37 does in the embodiment of FIGS. 2 and 3.
Drug infusion tube 30 would be threaded through pump anchor 28 in
the configuration of anchor 28 in FIGS. 2 and 3. Alternatively, a
slot 28a may be provided in pump anchor 28 to permit drug infusion
tube 30 to be inserted into an interior of pump anchor 28 in a
direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of third tube
39, without having to thread any members of drug infusion tube 30
through the aperture defined by pump anchor 28. A second locating
ring 40a could be provided with a different dimension than the
first ring 40 so that a mechanical fit/non-fit arrangement is
provided to assure proper placement of drug infusion tube 30. Two
expandable snaps 41 of the type shown in FIG. 6 could be provided
in a similar manner on opposite ends of third tube 39, instead of
rings 40,40a and securing clips 22,22a. Alternatively, the second
releasable securing means could include ring 40/clip 22 or snap 41
if the other of snap 41 or ring 40/clip 22 is provided for the
first releasable securing means.
The pressure plate 11 could be preferably made from an injection
molded rigid polymer. For example, long fiberglass-filled
polyurethane would likely be acceptable. The lower portion 29 of
the pressure plate 11 would be injection molded as one part and the
main surface 17, ribs 18, clamping means, securing means, pump
anchor 28 and pump securing extensions 24 would be injection molded
as a second part. Because the pressure plate 11 is molded as two
parts, the clamping ribs l9a,b can be easily molded from either the
side or bottom of the mold. The main surface 17 would then be
fastened to the lower portion 29 by use of an adhesive, snap
arrangement or any other suitable fastening means. Those skilled in
the art would recognize that the pressure plate 11 could be made
from other materials or made by other methods as long as the main
surface 17 of the pressure plate 11 were rigid enough to allow the
tube engaging members 13 to compress the third tube 39 between the
tube engaging members 13 and the pressure plate 11. Tube 35 and
tube 39 are preferably adhesively attached with a solvent bond to
connector 31, and tube 37 is preferably adhesively attached with a
solvent bond to tube 39. Tubes 35, 37, 39 are preferably made from
polyvinylchloride (PVC). Connector 31 is made from plastic, such as
polycarbonate or PVC. Ring 40 and snap 41 are also made of plastic,
such as polycarbonate or PVC.
Once infusion tube 30 is attached or otherwise mounted to pressure
plate 11, and pressure plate 11 is attached or otherwise mounted to
pump mechanism 12, fluid, including fluids containing a drug or
drugs, is pumped from the fluid source to a distal end of second
tube 37, which my be connected to a patent.
The releasable attachment structure for mounting infusion tube 30
to pressure plate 11, including, for example, connector 31 and
associated clamping structure, securing clip 22 and ring 40, or
expandable snap 41, and other releasable attachment structure
permits infusion tube 30 to be securely and temporarily mounted to
pressure plate 11. Such releasable attachment permits reuse of
plate 11, saving costs for the caregiver and patient.
The releasable attachment of plate 11 from both tube 30 and pump
mechanism 12 permits plate 11 to be sterilized between uses with
different infusion tubes 30. Such would be difficult, or impossible
if plate 11 was permanently affixed to pump mechanism 12, and
infusion tube 30 was permanently attached to plate 11.
It is to be appreciated that advantages of the present invention
can be realized through the use of the releasable attachment
structure for mounting infusion tube 30 to plate 11, regardless of
the attachment structure between plate 11 and pump mechanism 12,
whether it is permanent (for example, a hinge) or releasable (for
example, anchor 28 and extensions 24).
Although characteristics and advantages, together with details for
structure, materials, function and process steps, have been
described in reference to a preferred embodiment herein, it is
understood that the disclosure is illustrative. To that degree,
various changes made, especially to matters of shape, size and
arrangement, to the full extent extended by the general meaning of
the terms in which the appended claims are expressed, are within
the principles of the present invention.
* * * * *